Vanberg & Dewulf
"The Experts in Belgian Beer Since 1982" Vanberg & Dewulf is the premiere importer of independently produced, traditional Belgian beers in the United States. Their portfolio includes award-winning Belgian ales such as Saison Dupont, recently named the "Best Beer in the World" by Men's Journal magazine, Scaldis Prestige, and Witkap Triple, named one of the "Top Ten" Abbey Ales by the New York Times. Belgian beers are unlike any other in the world. They are iconic, gastronomic and full of depth, like fine wines. Vanberg & Dewulf distributes the beers of five very distinctive breweries:
Brasserie Dupont
Sometimes father definitely knows best. When Louis Dupont, an agricultural engineer in Belgium, was tempted to move to Candada and purchase a farming estate there in 1920, his father, Alfred Dupont, bought him the Rimaux-Deridder farm-brewery instead. Remaux-Deridder was established in 1844 in Tourpes and well known for its honey-flavoured beer, Bière de Miel. That beer, as well as the renowned Saison Dupont and others, continue to be produced by the renamed Dupont Brewery, which has remained an independent company, producing high quality speciality and innovative beers while keeping traditional manufacturing processes alive.
Saison DupontABV: 6.5% |
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The classic example of the saison style. A pleasing straw-color with a dense creamy head. The nose is estery with citrus and spice notes. Full-bodied and malty, it sparkles on the palate and finishes with a zesty hop and citrus attack. A true world classic, the definition of saison. Works best as an aperitif on its own, but perfectly comfortable with a variety of flavorful cheeses (quite nice with Romano), grilled chicken, and shellfish. |
MOINETTE ARTISINALE ALE (BLONDE)ABV: 8.5% |
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A true artisinale ale from Wallonia, the French region of Belgium. Herbal bouquet, well-hopped, with spice and ginger notes. Full and round with a fruity finish. Bottle-conditioned and suitable for cellaring. Great with steamed mussels (you can use it to steam them, too), fresh bread and cheese, and game dishes; an excellent before-dinner beer. |
MOINETTE BIO (FORET)ABV: 7.5% |
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Belgium’s only 100% certified organic ale. Brewed from 100% organically cultivated hops, barley and pure well water. Bottle conditioned and suitable for cellaring. Free-range chicken roasted with organic vegetables, game dishes. |
MOINETTE BRUN |
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A rare and fine example of Belgian dry brown ale in the Trappist tradition. Hearty with an herbal bouquet that indicates its well-hopped character. Delicious before a meal, really stands up to and compliments highly seasoned foods like Cajun and Jamaican jerk. It also brings alive the flavors of steak, roasts and chops. (25 oz NR (12) & 20 liter BBL) |
BIERE DE MIELABV: 8% |
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100% organic Honey Ale. Brewed with Belgian Acacia honey. Pale yellow in color with a marvelous floral scent. A honeyed richness coaxes the palate into thinking the beer is sweet, but the finish is dry with a noticeable hop tang. Great with roast turkey, delicious with fresh bread, but also a winner with Thai or Chinese. |
Avec Les Bons voeuxABV: 9.5% |
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Literally meaning, “with best wishes”. Dupont’s Christmas offering is rich gold in color with a fragrant aroma of lemon, hints of pepper, banana and clove. It has a deep, malt richness that lingers on your tongue for what seems the entire holiday season. |
Dupont AvrilABV: 3.5% |
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A light, refreshing Belgian ale that is perfect for this ungodly hot weather. Low in alcohol but big in flavor. This is what is referred to as a 'table beer' in Belgium. This is from Brasserie Dupont, so you know that this beer is made with integrity and with real taste. |
Brasserie Dubuisson
The Dubuisson brewery is in the hamlet of Pipaix, outside of Tournai. The brewery was founded in 1769 by Joseph Leroy, an ancestor of the Dubuisson family. Today it is managed by Vincent and Hugues Dubuisson, the eighth generation to control the brewery’s destiny. For nearlty two centuries, Dubuisson existed in combination with a family farm. In 1931, Alfred Dubuisson decided to give up farming to devote all his time to producing beer. He and his brother, Amédée, purchased the farm/brewery from their parents. Alfred brewed a blend of Belgian and English styles to suit the demand of the times and named his creation Bush Beer, or "beer of the forest." Little by little, that beer, the strongest brewed in Belgium at 12% ABV, became the main product of the Dubuisson brewery. It is marketed as Scaldis in the U.S. to avoid any confusion with Anheuser Busch.
SCALDIS BELGIAN ALEABV: 12% |
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For a beer that is 12% alcohol, it is very dry and not at all cloying. It has a chewy mouth feel. The nutty maltiness is balanced by a dry hoppy finish. Three different malts and unique yeast create a beer with as much nuance as potency. Enjoy it as a light alternative to Cognac or Brandy. Delicious with desserts and chocolate. |
SCALDIS NOELABV: 12.5% |
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At 12.5% alcohol, it is a bit stronger than Scaldis Belgian Ale. Its burnished ruby-copper color prepares you well for a spicy aroma with notes of caramel and marzipan. The taste is round, with hints of licorice leading to a long, warming finish. Enjoy this either with a rich, special dessert, or simply by itself. |
SCALDIS PRESTIGEABV: 13% |
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An incredibly complex, balanced and satisfying beer. Triple fermented in French oak for 6 months. Deep caramel malt notes blend perfectly with the vanilla and tannin of the oak and are heightened and accentuated by the 13% ABV. Only 3000 bottles are allocated to the U.S. Best by itself, to be sipped slowly, with intimate companionship. |
Scaldis Prestige de NuitsABV: 12% |
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Scaldis Prestige de Nuits is Scaldis Noel aged for six months in burgundy barrels from the Nuits St Georges Vineyard. Prestige de Nuits is rare, incredibly complex, elegant and sophisticated with a high level of champagne-like carbonation. |
Scaldis RefermenteeABV: 12% |
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New from Vanberg & DeWulf, Scaldis Refermentee is a great beer to cellar. Take Scaldis and re-ferment it in the bottle and you get a creamier, more full and round (not as dry and crisp) ale. Refermentee, perfect with chocolate, will be available just in time for Valentine's Day. |
Scaldis Blond TripleABV: 10% |
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Weighing in at 10% ABV, Scaldis BlondeTriple is a stunning Strong Golden ale from Dubuisson. Known as the smooth strong and elegant Scaldis copper ale, Dubuisson has brought their strong beer brewing talents to a Triple style. Imagine vanilla icing, marshmallow with fruit undertones and you will have a preview of this new estimable ale. |
De Troch
Dating back to the 18th century, De Troch brewery sits outside of Brussels in Wambeek, Belgium. From generation to generation the recipes for their infamous their Chapeau fruit beers have been passed down and perfected. It started with Pieter De Troch in the late 18th century and continues to Pauwell Raes, the newest generation legacy to join in 2002 to run this rare craft brewery.
LambruchaABV: 3.5% |
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Lambrucha, is a combination of tart lambic beer with kombucha, a fermented tea drink. This blend yields a fiercely bubbly, bone-dry, rose-color liquid that greets the palate with a burst of lemon, then softens into flowery, herbaceous notes as it goes down. The flavors bring pairings of seafood and spring vegetables to mine. |
Brouwerij Slaghmuylder
Slaghmuylder is a family-owned Belgian brewery which was founded in 1960. The brewery boasts a functioning steam engine, Anheuser-Busch kegs (left behind after the American troops departed Ninove at the end of World War II), and makes the only beer brewed by a layman ever permitted to use the “Trappist” designation on the label. Today the handsome 135 year old brewery and adjacent museum is overseen by three cousins who are descendants of the founder Emmanuel Slaghmuylder, a grain merchant turned brewer. The Slaghmuylder cousins brew Witkap Singel according to a recipe first developed at the Drie Linden brewery (in nearby Brasschaat). The Slaghmuylders took over Drie Linden in 1981. The brewer there was instrumental in developing many celebrated beers for Trappist monasteries. He was so beloved by the Brothers, and his contributions were so valued, that they conferred on him a special honor. For the duration of his life, his Witkap beers would be allowed to carry the “Trappistenbier” designation.
WITKAP ABBEY SINGLE ALEABV: 6% |
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This beer has an extremely estery aroma with typical abbey notes of banana and berry, Unusually, this is followed by a light body and lemony finish. At 5% alcohol, the effect is something one could describe as abbey light. Monks drank this with their mid-day meal. Good with an Asian-dressed salad, or a straightforward cheese like feta, Lancashire, or Gouda. |
WITKAP ABBEY TRIPLE ALEABV: 7.5% |
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A delightful 7.5% ABV version of an abbey triple. Hints of banana and cloves mix with the classic lightly tart Witkap character and a silky body to create a delicious “lemon chiffon” quality. A full drinking experience without sugar and high alcohol. Try this with seafood or chicken with light sauces, big cheeses - this is one that can stand up to Roquefort - or on its own. |
BLANCHES DES MOINEABV: 4.5% |
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An authentic artisanal Belgian White Beer re-fermented in the bottle, Blanche des Moines is brewed with 60% pilsner malt and 40% unmalted wheat. This high proportion of unmalted wheat gives the tangy, wheaty notes so characteristic of the style. Spicing with coriander, dried orange peel and a touch of licorice root makes for a delightfully complex aroma and effervescent flavor subtly sweetened by a fine malt character. Great with salad, a cleansing brilliance with fried oysters. |
Brasserie Castelain
Yves Castelain, the proprietor and grandson of the founder of the brewery, is a central operative in the revival of artisanal brewing in France. He is doing this against a backdrop where more than 90% of the beer consumed is made by industrial brewers
CASTELAINABV: 6.4% |
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A classic example of a rare bier de garde, Castelain has a bright yellow gold hue and pours with a white laced head. It has a sweet palate and shows a fine depth of malt flavors, subtle hints of caramel and a bitter hop bite on the finish. “The sweetest among the Bieres de Gardes ... earthy, grassy, citrussy, slightly sticky palate, with aromatic maltiness and a long finish. A beer to go with food.” says Michael Jackson. A versatile beer that blends the best aspects of lagers and ales, the perfect beer for a full meal with lots of different flavors. Particularly good with meaty sausages and lamb. |
